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Publications

Publications from the staff of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Filter Total Items: 2477

Lake Andrei: A pliocene pluvial lake in Eureka Valley, Eastern California Lake Andrei: A pliocene pluvial lake in Eureka Valley, Eastern California

We used geologic mapping, tephrochronology and 40Ar/39Ar dating to describe evidence of a ca. 3.5 Ma pluvial lake in Eureka Valley, eastern California, that we informally name herein Lake Andrei. We identified six different tuffs in the Eureka Valley drainage basin including two previously undescribed tuffs: the 3.509 ± 0.009 Ma tuff of Hanging Rock Canyon and the 3.506 ± 0.010 Ma tuff...
Authors
Jeffrey R. Knott, Elmira Wan, Alan L. Deino, Mitch Casteel, Marith C. Reheis, Fred Phillips, Laura Walkup, Kyle McCarty, David N. Manoukian, Ernest Nunez

Oases: Finding hidden biodiversity gems in the southern Sonoran Desert Oases: Finding hidden biodiversity gems in the southern Sonoran Desert

In the arid southern Sonoran Desert, the rugged canyons of the Sierra El Aguaje contain numerous freshwater oases. These habitats are supported by small springs which are usually located along geologic faults in volcanic and granitic bedrock. Genetic evidence from freshwater-obligate species (e.g., fish and frogs) suggests these or similar spring-fed habitats have persisted for thousands...
Authors
Michael T. Bogan, Carlos Ballesteros-Cordova, S. Bennett, Michael H. Darin, Lloyd T. Findley, Alejandro Varela-Romero

Mapa metalogenético de América Central y El Caribe Mapa metalogenético de América Central y El Caribe

La Asociación de Servicios Geológicos y Mineros de Iberoamérica (ASGMI), bajo los auspicios de la Comisión de la Carta Geológica del Mundo (CCGM) preparó la primera versión del Mapa Metalogénico de América Central y el Caribe. La coordinación general estuvo a cargo del Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino (SEGEMAR), con tres coordinaciones regionales: América Central a cargo del Servicio...
Authors
Eduardo O Zappettini, Gloria Prieto-Rincon, Natalia Amezcua, Santiago Munoz-Tapia, Janeth Sepulveda-Ospina, Carlos M. Celada-Arango, David Jara, X Cazanas-Diaz, Jorge L. Torres-Zafra, Jorge L. Cobiella-Reguera, Lukas Zurcher, Greta J. Orris, Floyd Gray, Carolina Maldonado-Diaz, Noe Rodriguez, Ramon Merida-Montiel, Carlos A. Zarruk

Extension directions in the Colorado River extensional corridor compared to fragmentation of a structurally disrupted caldera in the Sacramento Mountains, southeastern California Extension directions in the Colorado River extensional corridor compared to fragmentation of a structurally disrupted caldera in the Sacramento Mountains, southeastern California

The northwest trend of the southern Colorado River extensional corridor in the southwestern USA veers northward between 34° and 35° north latitude. The tilt axes of early Miocene west-tilted volcanic strata in the west-central Sacramento Mountains mirror this bend. Steeply dipping early Miocene strata and volcanics north and south of the bend indicate the strong respectively westward to
Authors
Keith A. Howard, Charles A. Ferguson

Reconnaissance map of the Cenozoic geology in the Carlin basin area, Elko and Eureka counties, Nevada Reconnaissance map of the Cenozoic geology in the Carlin basin area, Elko and Eureka counties, Nevada

The middle Miocene Carlin sedimentary basin encompasses a large area between the Adobe Range to the east, the Piñon Range to the south, the southern Independence Mountains and Marys Mountain to the west, and Swales Mountain to the north. The town of Carlin is in the southern part of the basin. The geologic map includes detailed to more reconnaissance mapping of Cenozoic units in the main...
Authors
Alan R. Wallace

Fault trace mapping and surface-fault-rupture special study zone delineation of the Wasatch Fault Zone, Utah and Idaho Fault trace mapping and surface-fault-rupture special study zone delineation of the Wasatch Fault Zone, Utah and Idaho

The Wasatch fault zone (WFZ) is a 220-mile-long (350-km) fault zone divided into 10 structural segments extending from southeastern Idaho to central Utah. The central five segments of the WFZ underlie the densely populated Wasatch Front region, where the majority of Utah’s population and economy are proximal to the fault zone. The West Valley fault zone (WVFZ) is an antithetic structure...
Authors
Greg N. McDonald, Emily J. Kleber, Adam I. Hiscock, S. Bennett, Steve D. Bowman

Machine learning for natural resource assessment: An application to the blind geothermal systems of Nevada Machine learning for natural resource assessment: An application to the blind geothermal systems of Nevada

A study is underway to apply machine learning methods to evaluate natural resource potential. In particular, we are considering the search for blind geothermal systems in Nevada. Beginning with the data and experience from the previous Nevada play fairway analysis project, we are building models in TensorFlow/Keras and gaining experience toward predicting the geothermal resource...
Authors
Stephen C. Brown, Mark F. Coolbaugh, Jacob DeAngelo, James E. Faulds, Michael Fehler, Chen Gu, John H. Queen, Sven Treitel, Connor M. Smith, Eli Mlawsky

Outburst floods Outburst floods

Outbursts from impounded water bodies produce large, hazardous, and geomorphically significant floods affecting the Earth as well as other planetary surfaces. Two broad classes of impoundments are: (1) valleys blocked by ice, landslides, constructed dams, and volcanic materials; and (2) closed basins such as tectonic depressions, calderas, meteor craters, and those rimmed by glaciers and...
Authors
Jim E. O'Connor, John J. Clague, Joseph S. Walder, Vernon Manville, Robin A. Beebee

Progress and lessons learned from responses to landslide disasters Progress and lessons learned from responses to landslide disasters

Landslides have the incredible power to transform landscapes and also, tragically, to cause disastrous societal impacts. Whereas the mechanics and effects of many landslide disasters have been analyzed in detail, the means by which landslide experts respond to these events has garnered much less attention. Herein, we evaluate nine landslide response case histories conducted by the U.S...
Authors
Brian D. Collins, Mark E. Reid, Jeffrey A. Coe, Jason W. Kean, Rex L. Baum, Randall W. Jibson, Jonathan W. Godt, Stephen Slaughter, Greg M. Stock

Tungsten skarn mineral resource assessment of the Great Basin region of western Nevada and eastern California Tungsten skarn mineral resource assessment of the Great Basin region of western Nevada and eastern California

A new quantitative mineral resource assessment for tungsten, a critical mineral commodity with highly concentrated production and a moderate risk of global supply disruption, was conducted for the Great Basin region of western Nevada and eastern California. This assessment was part of a larger effort focusing on three regions in the United States and represents the first study of...
Authors
Graham W. Lederer, Federico Solano, Joshua Aaron Coyan, Kevin Denton, Kathryn E. Watts, Celestine N. Mercer, Damon Bickerstaff, Matthew Granitto

Cordilleran subduction initiation: Retro-arc timing and basinal response in the Inyo Mountains, eastern California Cordilleran subduction initiation: Retro-arc timing and basinal response in the Inyo Mountains, eastern California

Subduction zones drive plate tectonics on Earth, yet subduction initiation and the related upper plate depositional and structural kinematics remain poorly understood because upper plate records are rare and often strongly overprinted by magmatism and deformation. During the late Paleozoic time, Laurentia’s western margin was truncated by a sinistral strike-slip fault that transformed...
Authors
Emma Lodes, Nancy R. Riggs, Michael E. Smith, Paul Stone
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